Leverage type upholstering tensioner



July 30, 1957 v. P. CARRICK ETAL 2,890,665

LEVERAGE TYPE UFHOLSTERING TENSIONER Filed Jan. 27, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet l Virgil P. Garrick Gar! F. Martin 7 willie W. Freed/e Robert L. Van:

INVENTORS.

WW ZYM y 1957 v.- P. CARRICK ET AL 2,800,665

LEVERAGE TYPE UFHOLSTER ING TENSIONER Filed Jan. 2'7, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 l r I Virg/ P. Garrick Carl F. Martin v ,5 Willie w. Freed/e Hg. 3 Robert L. York I N VEN TORS.

United States Patent LEVERAGE TYPE UPHOLSTERING TENSIONER Virgil P. Carrick, Carl F. Martin, Willie W. Freedle, and

Robert L. York, High Point, N. C.

Application January 27, 1956, Serial No. 561,860

3 Claims. (Cl. -51) This invention relates in general to new and useful mprovements in sofa beds, and more specifically to an improved tensioner for the upholstery of sofa beds.

In order that sofa beds may present an even and continuous surface when in a bed forming position, a single cover or upholstery is utilized for both the back portion and the seat portion of the sofa bed. However, when the sofa bed is in a sofa forming position, due to the relative movement between the back portion and the seat portion there is a normal loosening of the cover or upholstery. It is therefore the primary object of this invention to provide an extremely simple, yet highly effective, tensioning device which may be attached to the cover for the sofa bed intermediate the seat portion and the back portion and which will automatically tension the upholstery or cover when the back portion is moved to a sofa forming position.

Still another object of this invention is to provide an improved tensioning device for the upholstery of sofa beds, the tensioning device being constructed whereby the desired tension may be placed upon the upholstery of the sofa bed and at the same time excessive strain on the upholstery is prevented.

A further object of this invention is to provide an improved tensioning device for the upholstery of sofa beds, the tensioning device being in the form of a leverage type linkage which is positively actuated by the relative movement of the back portion with respect to the seat portion of the sofa bed.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being bad to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is a top plane view of a sofa bed employing the tensioning device which is the subject of this invention and shows the same in a bed forming position, an intermediate portion of the upholstery being broken away in order to clearly illustrate the relationship of the tensioning means therefor;

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary transverse vertical sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 22 of Figure 1 and shows the specific details of the leverage type linkage for tensioning the upholstery or cover of the sofa bed;

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view similar to Figure 2 and shows the sofa bed folded to a sofa forming position, the tensioning device being operative to tension the upholstery thereof as necessary; and

Figure 4 is an enlarged exploded perspective view of one of the leverage type linkages utilized in tensioning the upholstery.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, it will be seen that there is illustrated a sofa bed which is referred to in general by the reference numeral 10. The sofa bed includes a suitable base 12 on which there is supported 'ice a seat portion, which is referred to in general by the reference numeral 14, and a back portion which is referred to in general by the numeral 16.

The seat portion 14 remains seated on the base 12 in all positions thereof and includes a supporting frame 18 which carries a desired spring assembly 20. Overlying the spring assembly 20 is a suitable pad 22.

The back portion 16 is constructed very similar to the seat portion 14 and includes a supporting frame 24. Carried by the supporting frame 24 is a spring construction 26 over which there is padding 28. Covering the padding 22 and the padding 28 is a cover 30 formed of suitable upholstery.

In order to assure the proper relationship between the seat 14 and the back portion 16 in both the bed forming position of Figure 2 and the sofa forming position of Figure 3, there is carried by the frames 18 and 24 at opposite sides thereof plates 32 and 34, respectively. The plates 32 and 34 are pivotally connected together adjacent their upper corners by means of transversely aligned horizontal pivots 36. Secured to opposite sides of the base 12 are mounting plates 38. Pivotally connected to each mounting plate 38 by means of a pivot 40 is a first link 42 which is pivoted to the seat portion 14 by the pivot 36. Also pivoted to each mounting plate 38 by means of a pivot pin 44 is a link 46 whose opposite end is pivotally connected to an associated one of the plates 34 by means of a pivot 48,

The foregoing sofa bed construction is generally conventional and in itself does not form this invention. However, the cover 30, while properly tensioned when the sofa bed 10 is in the bed forming position, becomes slack when the sofa bed 10 is in the seat forming position of Figure 3. In order that the cover 30 may be properly tensioned at all times, there is secured to an intermediate portion thereof a pull strip 50 which is doubled upon itself to form an elongated loop 52. The pull strip 50 may be formed of any suitable material, although denim is generally utilized, and extends downwardly between the padding 22 and 28.

Referring now to Figure 4 in particular, it will be seen that there is illustrated a leverage type linkage which is referred to in general by the reference numeral 54. The linkage 54 is formed primarily of a first link 56, a second link 58, a third link 60 and a fourth link 62. The links 56, 58, 60 and 62 are formed of flat strap material and cooperate with each other. The links 56 and 58 are identical and the links 60 and 62 are identical.

The link 56 is provided at the lower end thereof with a relatively short slot 64. The upper end of the link 56 is also provided with a relatively short slot 66. Disposed intermediate the slots 64 and 66 in an elongated slot 68.

The link 58 is provided at the lower end thereof with a short slot 70. A similar slot 72 is provided at the upper end of the link 58. The space between the slots 70 and 72 is substantially occupied by an elongated slot 74. The links 56 and 58 are disposed in cross relation and connected together for both pivotal and sliding movement by an intermediate pivot pin 76 disposed in aligned portions of the slots 68 and 74.

The link 60 is provided at the lower end thereof with a relatively short slot 78. A similar slot 80 is formed in the upper end of the link 60. The link 60 is connected to the upper end of the link 56 for both pivotal and sliding movement by a pivot pin 82 disposed in the slots 66 and 78.

The link 62 is provided at the lower end thereof with a relatively short slot 84. A similar slot 86 is formed in the upper end thereof. The lower end of the link 72 overlaps the upper end of the link 58 and is connected a 3 thereto for both pivotal and sliding movement by means of a pivot pin 88.

The linkage 54 also includes a pair of mounting bracket assemblies 90 and 92, respectively, for the links 56 and 58. The bracket assembly 90 includes L-shaped brackets 94 and 96 which have mounting flanges 98 and 100 and opposed link connecting flanges 102 and 104, respectively. The lower end of the link 56 is disposed between the flanges 102 and 104 and connected thereto for pivotal and sliding movement by means of apivot pin 106.

The bracket assembly 92 is formed of a pair of -L- shaped brackets 108 and 110. The brackets 108 and 110 include oppositely directed mounting flanges 112 and 114 and link connecting flanges 116 and 118, respectively. The lower end of the link 58 is disposed between the link connecting flanges 116 and 118 and is connected thereto for both pivotal and sliding movement by means of a pivot pin 120, as is best illustrated in Figure 2.

Referring now to Figure 1 in particular, it will be seen that the sofa bed is provided with a pair of the leverage type linkages 54, the individual linkages 54 being spaced transversely of the sofa bed 10. Extending between and connecting together the linkages 54 is an elongated rod 122. The rod 122 passes through the slots 80 and 86 and connect together the links 60 and 62 for both pivotal and sliding relative movement. The rod 122 is disposed within the confines of the loop 52 of the pull strip 50.

Referring now to Figure 2 once again, it will be seen that when the sofa bed 10 is in the bed forming position, the'links 56 and 58 are disposed in substantially upright positions and that the cover 30 is normally tensioned by the seat portion 14 and the back portion 16. However, when the sofa bed 10 is folded into a sofa forming position, adjacent portions of the frames 18 and to which the bracket assemblies 90 and 92 are secured are moved apart with the result that the links 56 and 58 pivot about their pivot pins 76 and assume a relatively flat position. This also results in the links 60 and 62 moving to generally flat positions and the downward movement of the rod 122. The relative downward movement of the rod 122 causes the similar movement of the pull strip 50 and the intermediate portion of the cover 30 thus tensioning the cover 30 as is necessary due to the relative movement of the back portion 16 with respect to the seat portion 14. Thus the linkage 54 serves to properly tension the cover 30 in all positions of the sofa bed 10.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described and accordingly, all suitable modifications and l equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. In a sofa bed of the type including a seat portion and a back portion, a single cover on said seat and back portlons, a tensioner for said cover comprising leverage type linkage connected to said cover and extending between said seat portion and said back portion and actuated thereby in response to movement of said back portion to a sofa forming position, said leverage type linkage including first and second links pivotally connected to said seat and back portions and to each other in crossed relation, and third and fourth links pivotally connected to said first and second links, respectively, and to each other.

2. In a sofa bed of the type including a seat portion and a back portion, a single cover on said seat and back portions, 21 tensioner for said cover comprising leverage type linkage connected to said cover and extending between said seat portion and said back portion and actuated thereby in response to movement of said back portion to a sofa forming position, said leverage type linkage including first and second links pivotally connected to said seat and back portions and to each other in crossed relation, and third and fourth links pivotally connected to said first and second links, respectively, a rod pivotally connecting said third and fourth links together, said rod being-connected to said cover.

3. In a sofa bed of the type including a seat portion and a back portion, a single cover on said seat and back portions, a tensioner for said cover comprising leverage type linkage connected to said cover and extending between said seat portion and said back portion and actuated thereby in response to movement of said back portion to a sofa forming position, said leverage type linkage including first and second links pivotally connected to said seat and back portions and to each other in crossed relation, and third and fourth links pivotally connected to said first and second links, respectively, a rod pivotally connecting said third and fourth links together, a pull strip connected to said cover, said rod being carried by said pull strip.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,721,559 Herz July 23, 1929 2,291,677 Bank Aug. 4, 1942 2,335,036 Young Nov. 23, 1943 2,588,058 Thompson et al Mar. 4, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS 156,969 Austria Sept. 11, 1939 202,471 Great Britain Aug. 23, 1923 

